I'm very sorry that I didn't update earlier. Exams have been really annoying and I haven't had much time. This chapter is a product of many random haphazard writings whenever I've had time, so it's not the way I'd have liked. Either way, enjoy. :D

"I feel like ass," Lucas commented to Ryan, rubbing his bleary eyes as they made their way down the hallway. There was hardly anyone in school, because Ryan had only come early for basketball practice and Lucas had decided to accompany him. "I didn't get a wink of sleep last night."

"Me neither," Ryan said. "Who's brilliant idea was it to host the auction on a Sunday?"

Lucas nodded in agreement.

"So what kept you awake?" Ryan asked.

"Well, Peyton and I went downstairs and when customers saw the lights on, they started coming in. We couldn't exactly kick them out so we served them till like two in the morning. What about you?"

Ryan paused, wondering how to tell Lucas he'd spent most of the night lying on Brooke's bed kissing her. Of course, Lucas knew Brooke had bought him…but maybe he didn't need to hear the gory details.

"Um…not much. Went home. Watched a movie."

"Really?" said Lucas. "Which one?"

Ryan thought fast. "Pride and Prejudice. You know, the Keira Knightley one."

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "I wouldn't peg you to be the Pride and Prejudice kind of guy."

Ryan shrugged. "What can I say? The girl's hot."

Lucas grinned. Marissa came up to them.

"Hey, you guys." She was smiling and looking giddy. "Seen Jake?"

"Jagielski?" Lucas said. It had been kind of a tip off when Marissa bought Jake in the auction, but he was still having a hard time believing it. They were such an odd couple.

"Well, I'm headed to practice. I'm pretty sure he'll be there. I'll tell him you're looking for him," offered Ryan. So far, there had been no tension with him and Marissa, and for that he was glad.

"Thanks," said Marissa. Ryan had never seen her like this before. She was practically glowing. He waved at both Lucas and her, and headed toward the gym.

Seth hovered outside the gym nervously, debating whether or not to go in. He had his hand on the door when he felt Ryan brush past him.

He turned around. "Ryan, hey."

"Hey, Seth. How was your night?"

Seth looked awkward. "Um, okay, I guess. Yours?"

"I sort of kissed Brooke," Ryan said sheepishly. "And I'm scared to tell Lucas."

"Hey, I'm sure he'll understand," said Seth. "I mean, they're broken up, right?"

Ryan shrugged. "I guess. Okay, I gotta go in. You coming?"

Seth took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah. I am."

Nathan heard the door opening and saw Ryan and Seth come in. His face broke into a huge smile, and he dropped the ball he was holding and ran toward them.

"Hey, Ryan," he said, before speeding past him to Seth.

"Hi," said Seth uncertainly.

"Hi," said Nathan. There was a pause.

"Look, about last night," they both began.

Nathan laughed. "Let me go first. I had a blast. I kissed you. I liked it. Your turn."

Seth tried to keep the girly smile off his face. "I figured there'd be awkwardness or something. You know. My first kiss with a guy and all that."

"I'm not just any guy," Nathan said.

"Nathan! Are you coming or what?" Tim called.

Nathan touched his shoulder, and sped off toward the team.

"No," said Seth, staring after him. "You're not."

"Jake!"

Jake had barely turned around when he felt Marissa leap into his arms. Her long sandy blonde hair tickled his face as he held onto her.

"Hey."

"I missed you," Marissa breathed into his ear, though it had not even been six hours since their last meeting.

"Me too." Jake said. He moved his head around to kiss her, but a voice from just behind stopped him.

"Ahem."

Marissa looked back to see Peyton standing in front of them, a cold expression on her face.

"Peyt-"

"You're blocking my locker," she said curtly.

Marissa and Jake moved out of the way. Peyton dumped a few books and then slammed the locker door shut as hard as she could. Marissa stared after her despairingly as she walked away.

"Good practice?" Seth asked Nathan, after it was over.

"Decent," Nathan replied. "But I couldn't stop thinking about you."

Seth rolled his eyes. "Oh, c'mon."

"I mean it," said Nathan said seriously. "Seth, I – "

But they never got to find out what Nathan was going to say because just then, they swung open the gym doors and felt the eye of every kid at school on them.

There was a moment of just gaping. Then the whispers broke out. Some people didn't even bother to lower their voices.

"I heard he screwed like, all the guys at his old school. That's why they had to come here."

"I heard him and Nathan had sex last night in some random jacuzzi!"

"Well, I heard the whole thing gay thing's just an excuse to break up with Summer."

"Dude, why? She's hot."

Seth winced, as though the comments were physically hurting him. He stared, wounded, at Nathan before bolting in the direction of the other doors.

Lucas located Brooke amongst the crowd of people in the hallway.

"Brooke," he said. She turned around.

"What?"

He pushed through to her. "Hey," he said awkwardly. "How are you?"

Brooke looked at him in disbelief. "Hi," she said slowly.

"So how was your weekend?" He said, straining to keep the false smile on his face.

She squinted at him. "Fine," she said. "Lucas, what are you doing?"

Lucas pretended to look baffled. "Having a conversation."

"No, I mean – " She shook her head. "I don't know what you're on, but in case you forgot, we're not friends."

"But why can't we be?" Lucas asked desperately.

"Because you cheated on me…again?" Brooke said impatiently.

"You didn't answer my question," Lucas said. "Why can't we be friends?"

Brooke shook her head and unable to think of a reply, pushed past him.

When Marissa was unable to find Peyton in school she called her during lunch.

"Hello?" Peyton said coldly, answering her phone.

"Don't hang up," Marissa said quickly.

Peyton didn't say anything, but the absence of a click urged Marissa on.

"Peyton, what's the matter?" Marissa asked. "Seriously. Why are you icing me out?"

There was a pause. "You seriously haven't figured it out yet?" Peyton finally said.

"No," Marissa said. "What?"

"Jake's him."

"Jake's who?"

"The guy!" Peyton said heatedly. "The guy I'm in love with! The guy I told you about."

Marissa nearly dropped the phone. "Oh God," she breathed. "It's Jake? Peyton, I'm so sorry."

Peyton took a deep breath. "I guess it's okay. I mean, if you really didn't know."

"I didn't," Marissa said. "And Peyton, I really am sorry."

"It's okay," said Peyton, sounding friendlier. "And there are other fish in the sea. Since we're both single now – "

"Wait, what?" Marissa asked, confused. "What do you mean, there are other fish in the sea?"

"I mean that you'll find another guy," Peyton explained. "Considering you're you – "

"Find another guy?" Marissa asked, finally realizing what Peyton meant. "Why would I want to do that? I'm with Jake."

"B-but he's my ex boyfriend!" Peyton spluttered angrily. "How can you continue seeing him?"

"Because I really like him!" Marissa said, just as annoyed by Peyton's assumption. "And you don't own him."

"You're right, I don't," Peyton said. "I just thought my friend would understand. I see now that I was wrong. I don't know you at all."

She hung up.

"Hey, Peyton," Nathan called. She stopped and allowed him to catch up.

"Hi, Nathan," she said.

"Seen Seth?" Nathan said, as casually as he could.

"Why does it seem like you're always running after Seth?" Peyton asked. "He's a big boy, Nathan."

"I know," said Nathan. "It's just that – "

"I heard what happened," Peyton interrupted. "But they're not spreading rumors about only Seth."

"Yeah, but Seth's got this crazy idea that I told everyone," Nathan said heavily. "Atleast I think he does."

"What?" Peyton burst out. "How can he possibly think that?"

Nathan attempted a nonchalant shrug. "What about you? You don't look too happy either. Did something happen?"

Peyton sighed. "Yeah. Marissa and Jake happened. They're together now."

Nathan whistled. "I kind of thought so after last night, but still. Shit, Peyton. I'm sorry. That's gotta suck."

"It does," Peyton said. "But, you know. It's my fault. I should have known I couldn't trust her. Anyway, here's my class. See you around, Nathan."

"See you," he said, as she walked in.

"Hi, you," Brooke chirped, grabbing Ryan and kissing him on the lips. Ryan looked around nervously before removing her hands from around his neck and looking at her seriously.

"Brooke, what do we tell Lucas?"

"What do we tell Lucas about what?" She asked suspiciously.

"About…this. Us."

"Why should we tell him anything?" Brooke asked, looking annoyed. "Why should I care what Lucas thinks?"

"Well, I'm his friend and you're his ex-girlfriend," Ryan pointed out.

"Exactly," said Brooke. "Ex-girlfriend."

Ryan took a deep breath. "Look, can we just keep this low key for a while? Atleast till I tell him?"

Brooke didn't look at all happy but reluctantly said, "Okay."

Seth was going down the staircase to cafè when Nathan suddenly appeared, as though he had been waiting for him.

"Seth – "

"I don't want to talk to you," Seth said, trying to control the shaking in his voice.

"Look, I've been trying to tell you that I – "

"What I don't get," said Seth, his voice rising and attracting the attention of a few customers. "Is why you did it. To get people's attention? You're the goddamned captain of the basketball team! Why would you want more attention? Or was it to embarrass me?"

"Seth, please – "

"Well, if that was your intention, congratulations. It worked." He shoved past him.

"Luke, can I talk to you?" Ryan asked, panting. Lucas was giving him pointers on his game on the river court after school.

"Sure," Lucas said, setting the ball down and walking toward him. "What is it? You're white as a sheet."

Ryan took a deep breath. "Please don't be mad, Lucas, but…Brooke and I went back to her house…and, um…"

"And what? C'mon, Ryan, you can tell me."

"We sort of…made out," Ryan said, cringing, dreading Lucas's reaction. To his surprise, Lucas threw his head back and laughed.

"That's it? Jeez. I thought you'd, like, killed someone or something." Still laughing, Lucas picked up the ball again and threw it toward the basket.

Stunned, Ryan simply stood and stared at him and later, once he'd gotten home, he realized he'd been hoping Lucas would mind.

Karen approached Summer in the cafè with a worried, tense look on her face.

"Hey, Karen," Summer said, warmly. "What's up?"

"It's…well, it's not good actually. I hate to even bring it up but…" She paused. "Some tourists are arriving here tomorrow and are very keen on renting the upstairs bedrooms. They're offering a lot of money, but – "

"Done, Karen," Summer said, hopping off her stool. "We'll be out of your hair by tomorrow."

"But where will you go?" Karen asked, looking genuinely upset.

"Oh, don't worry," Summer said, reassuringly. "We'll find somewhere."

"Of course you can stay here, Summer!" Peyton said. "It'll be so much fun. Although, you know, Marissa might consider it a betrayal. We're sort of on the warpath."

"Jake?" Summer guessed, and Peyton nodded.

"Well, it's not like I can help it. I can't exactly stay with Brooke."

"Yeah, that's true," Peyton said. "So what about the others?"

"I've told Ryan and Coop. I still haven't been able to face Seth though."

"Luke, can I ask you a favour?" Ryan asked, after getting off the phone with Summer.

"Yeah. What is it?" Lucas asked, wiping his hands on a cloth at the cafè.

"Could I maybe stay with you for a little while? Only till Sandy and Kirsten get here. Some tourists want to rent out our rooms so I'm a little bit stranded."

"Well, duh! Of course you can," Lucas said, grinning. "I'll help you move in today."

"Oh, and Lucas? Seth too," Ryan said. "I don't know why, but he's fighting with Nathan."

Lucas shrugged. "Why not? The more the merrier."

Marissa called Brooke, who answered immediately.

"Hey, 'Rissa!" Brooke greeted her cheerfully.

"'Rissa?" Marissa said, trying not to laugh. "Since when?"

"Since now. Or would you prefer Mari?"

Grinning, Marissa said, "'Rissa's fine. Listen, can – "

"Peyton already told me. And yes, you're welcome to camp out at my humble home. Don't worry, it's parent-free."

"Thanks, Brooke!" Marissa said, relieved.

Seth, Lucas and Ryan began to move their stuff that very evening. Nathan happened to stop by during this time and bumped into Ryan, carrying down a large suitcase.

"Oh, hi, Nathan," Ryan said, putting down the suitcase at the foot of the stairs.

"Hey," Nathan said. "Where are you off to?"

"Lucas's house. We're moving there."

"We?"

"Seth and I."

The expression of naked hurt on Nathan's face was so apparent that Ryan immediately felt painfully sorry for him.

"Oh, so…both of you, huh? That should be cozy." Nathan was talking too fast and his eyes were bright. Ryan spoke impulsively.

"It's probably gonna get real crowded there. Luke's got, what, one bedroom? Do you think that I could – "

"I'd love you to," said Nathan immediately. Ryan smiled. He wasn't sure he could stand feeling like the third wheel while Lucas and Seth gabbed about the seemingly trillion things they seemed to have in common.

Hope you enjoyed. Review! Pretty please? :P